On Oct. 14, HCA Healthcare North Florida Division announced that six of their facilities in the Orlando Market will host opioid take back events on Saturday, Oct. 23. These events will raise awareness about the dangers of opioid misuse and proper disposal of medications. HCA Healthcare’s “Crush the Crisis” event supports the Drug Enforcement Administration’s (DEA) National Prescription Drug Take Back Day and invites community members to dispose of unused or expired prescription medications in a safe and anonymous way. 

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 70,630 Americans died from drug overdoses in 2019. More than 70% of those deaths were attributed to opioids. As the COVID-19 pandemic continues, opioid use in the U.S. continues to increase. It is possible that a considerable number of opioid addictions and overdose deaths come from individuals accessing the prescription medications of family and friends. In October 2020, 95 HCA Healthcare facilities in 18 states collected 13,523 pounds of unused and expired prescription medications at “Crush the Crisis” events around the country.

“Opioid addiction is a national health crisis, and it is imperative that we get unused pain medications out of homes where they can more easily end up in the wrong hands,” said Dr. Jeremy Joslin, chief medical officer, Central Florida Regional Hospital. “We invite you to join us for this year’s ‘Crush the Crisis’ event to properly dispose of unused medications and help us in educating the community about the serious threat of opioid misuse.”

During the opioid take back event, community members will have the opportunity to dispose of unused or expired prescription medications safely and anonymously at HCA Healthcare’s designated “Crush the Crisis” drop-off locations across Central Florida. Drive-thru collection options are also available.

Drop-off locations include:

• UCF Lake Nona Medical Center – 6700 Lake Nona Blvd. in Orlando
• Oviedo Medical Center – 8300 Red Bug Lake Rd. in Oviedo
• Poinciana Medical Center – 325 Cypress Pkwy. in Kissimmee
• Baldwin Park ER, an affiliate of Oviedo Medical Center – 2361 N. Semoran Blvd. in Orlando
• Heathrow ER, an affiliate of Central Florida Regional Hospital – 4525 International Pkwy. in Sanford
• ChampionsGate Emergency, an affiliate of Poinciana Medical Center – 8460 Champions Gate Blvd. in ChampionsGate

Local law enforcement officers will be present at all designated sites collecting tablets, morphine, hydromorphone (Dilaudid), oxymorphone (Opana), capsules and patches of hydrocodone (Norco, Lortab, Vicodin), oxycodone (Oxycontin, Percocet), tramadol (Ultram), and codeine, fentanyl (Duragesic). 

Community members should be aware that needles, syringes, liquids and lancets will not be accepted. COVID-19 safety protocols will be in place at all collection sites, including masking and social distancing.

For more information, visit hcahealthcare.com/crushthecrisis or call the toll-free information line at (833) 582-1970.